Many people do not understand what CT examination is, under what circumstances it needs to be performed, and what precautions should be taken. Being flustered in the hospital and wasting a lot of time, today we will introduce them one by one.
1、 What is CT examination?
CT scan is a commonly used clinical examination method, which mainly uses X-rays to penetrate the human body and produce black and white images. Its main hazard is the generation of ionizing radiation, so it is not recommended for pregnant women and children to undergo CT examination. At the same time, CT examination is the main means of diagnosing various diseases, which can be used for various systems throughout the body, commonly seen in brain trauma, cerebral hemorrhage, lung cancer, pneumothorax, and liver tumors. Renal tumors and other organ lesions can have good applications, and it can also be used as one of the commonly used methods for preliminary screening of physical examination patients.
2、 Under what circumstances is a CT scan necessary?
CT examination can be used for multi organ examination of the whole body, so in many cases, CT examination is necessary. For example, after suffering from trauma, patients need to undergo CT examination to observe the occurrence and type of fractures, as well as any bleeding or damage to organs. When patients experience stroke, cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage, and other conditions, CT scans are also necessary as a first step. When there is suspicion of lung infection or mass, CT examination is also necessary. When patients experience neck and waist pain, CT examination is also necessary when considering cervical spondylosis or lumbar disc problems. Joint misalignment, joint cavity effusion, etc. also require CT examination. It can be seen that CT has a wide range of applications around us.
3、 What are the precautions for CT examination?
1. Before examination
(1) Pay attention to removing metal objects from the examination area, such as earrings, hair accessories, and dentures on the head; A necklace around the neck; A brooch on the chest; Waist, abdominal, and pelvic belts, collectors, wallets, and keys; There are also ointments, etc.
(2) Do not take medication containing metals within 3 days before abdominal CT examination, and drink 500-1000 milliliters of water within 1-2 hours before abdominal CT examination. CT scans of the abdominal and pelvic regions are not suitable within 3 days after gastrointestinal barium meal imaging.
(4) Prior to CT enhancement examination, it is necessary to abstain from food and water for at least 4 hours, during which only drinking water is allowed. CT enhancement requires injection of iodine contrast agent, and a small number of people may experience allergic reactions. CT enhancement may result in contrast agent leakage, causing local edema and pain. If this occurs, a doctor or nurse should be contacted immediately.
2. During inspection, it is necessary to remove high-density or metallic objects from the inspection area;
(2) When entering the examination room, the use of mobile phones is prohibited;
(3) During the inspection, try to cooperate with the technician's positioning and hold your breath to avoid movement and ensure image quality;
(4) If unable to cooperate due to illness, explain to the technician, and the technician will decide whether to continue the examination at their discretion;
(5) When conducting the examination, it is necessary to close your eyes and not look at the red light on the scanning frame. If there is adhesive tape, plaster, etc. attached to the scanning area, it should be removed.
3. After the examination
(1) After the enhanced scan, it is necessary to wait for 30 minutes. If there are no adverse reactions, the nurse can remove the needle and leave, paying attention to compressing the needle to stop bleeding;
(2) Pay attention to any delayed adverse reactions after leaving, and inform medical staff promptly if there is any discomfort;
(3) After completing the enhanced CT scan, it is important to drink plenty of water and urinate frequently to facilitate the excretion of contrast agents.